Rep. John Boehner of Ohio was re-elected House speaker today despite an attempt by a small group of his fellow Republicans to deny him a third term.

NPR's Shirish Date tells us that Boehner was helped by a larger GOP majority than in the previous Congress, as well the absence of a number of Democrats who were attending the funeral of former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo.

All this week, we’re talking about energy issues in the U.S. Today, we look at hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, the process of injecting chemicals and water into rock to release natural gas and oil.

Though fracking has been going on in the U.S. for years, the debate over it has reached a fever pitch. Last month, New York became the first state with significant natural gas reserves to ban fracking, after completing a long-awaited report on health and environmental impacts.

AAA Oklahoma says the average price for a gallon of gasoline in the state has fallen for 69 consecutive days and is the third lowest in the nation.

AAA says Oklahoma's average price Tuesday was 1.89, down from the 2014 high of $3.53 in late June. Missouri's average price stood at $1.84 and Ohio's was $1.88.

AAA spokesman Chuck Mai says excess supply and weak demand forced the price of West Texas Intermediate crude oil down to below $50 per barrel on Monday for the first time since April 2009. It was trading at $107 per barrel in June.

University of Oklahoma head football coach Bob Stoops announced the firings of co-offensive coordinators Jay Norvell and Josh Heupel Tuesday morning after a tumultuous 8-5 season that culminated with a 40-6 loss Dec. 29 to Clemson in the Russell Athletic Bowl.

“By no means are they scapegoats. The bottom line is, I feel moving forward we need to go in a different direction,” Stoops said. “I thank them for what they have contributed, their dedication, and hard work through all these years, and I’m sure they’ll continue to have successful coaching careers as they move forward.”

Members of the House and Senate are convening at the Capitol to formally elect their leaders and adopt their rules for the upcoming legislative session.

Both chambers will convene at noon on Tuesday for an organizational day called for in the Oklahoma Constitution before the start of each new two-year Legislature. After each body elects its leaders, approves rules and formally certifies 2014 election results, they will adjourn until Feb. 2.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation will be playing primarily defense and little offense next legislative session, said Executive Director Mike Patterson Monday. The department’s legislative game plan, he said, came after discussions last session that threatened to reduce funding to the state agency.

The State Chamber of Oklahoma released its 2015 legislative agenda Monday which addresses a wide range of areas from transportation and energy to health and workforce development.

“As the ‘Voice of Business at the State Capitol,’ the State Chamber is committed to supporting policies that improve the state’s economic outlook,” State Chamber President and Chief Executive Officer Fred Morgan said in a press release. “That includes continuing or expanding economic development programs that have been proven to create jobs for thousands of Oklahomans.”

Other stories about it were featured on Jan. 3rd by the Huffington Post among others, and discussed by the Fox News Channel. The stories in various media suggested that “(W)earing a hoodie in Oklahoma could soon cost you a $500 fine.”

As KGOU’s story noted, Barrington's bill doesn't mention hoodies, but would make it illegal for someone to conceal his or her identity in public by using a "robe, mask, or other disguise.”

The AP says the language would amend a section of law originally targeting the Ku Klux Klan. The proposed legislation adds a new paragraph to State Statute 21-1301, making it illegal to "intentionally conceal his or her identity in a public place by means of a robe, mask, or other disguise.”